Wimpy Kid: Diary to DVD
Aah August. Hot summer days, back to school sales. . . and my cousin Katie's birthday. Pretty much the usual. EXCEPT this August 3, 2010, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie (rated PG) comes out on DVD. Now that doesn’t happen every year, does it? And how are we going to celebrate? With fun new interviews of course!
We spoke with Jeff Kinney, author of the books, and Zachary Gordon, the actor who plays Greg. First we asked Jeff:
Q: In real life, would Greg be a friend of yours?
Jeff: I think so. Even though he's kind of petty and self-centered, I think he has an interesting point of view and he would amuse me.
Q: Do you keep a diary. . . er journal?
Jeff: No, but I kept one in my mid-twenties. In fact, the format of the journals I kept as an adult — text and drawings — gave me the idea for Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I ended up stopping because I was spending more time documenting my life than living it!
[Ratha: Lol! That’s what Miley Cyrus said in one of our interviews, about why she quit Twitter.]
Q: How does the movie compare with the book?
Jeff: We tried to capture the best moments from the book and put them in the movie so fans of the series would be happy. What I really like about the movie is that you grow attached to Greg and Rowley and you really care about their friendship.
[Ratha: It's true! I actually ended up liking Rowley much more than Greg in the movie. . . but vice-versa in the book!]
Jeff: That's something that the books don't deliver on as well. I think that some scenes in the book translate really well in the movie, like the school play. I think the movie tells the same story in a really different way. We could've made an animated movie that stuck with the book word for word, but I don't think the audience would've felt satisfied. I think the audience wants to be surprised.
Q: What do you think is the best part of the movie?
Jeff: My favorite part is when Greg sings during tryouts for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz play.
Q: What surprised you the most about the process of making your book into a movie?
Jeff: How collaborative the process is. With a book, all you need is a writer and a pad of paper. To make a movie, you need hundreds of people and loads of equipment.
Q: Do you have any advice for kids who want to write or draw?
Jeff: I'd recommend that you copy the style of other artists and writers to start off. That way, you can see how they do what they do, and it will become a part of your toolkit and help you develop your own style.
And now here's Zachary Gordon, who stars as Greg in the movie:
Q: Will there be a Wimpy Kid sequel?
Zach: I hope so, I think there possibly will, though we don't know yet.
[Ratha: Our sources tell us that the sequel, Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Roderick Rules, is in pre-production, and will hit theaters March 25, 2011!]
Q: What else are you working on?
Zach: Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2. I play George Lopez's son, a mischievous Chihuahua who always gets himself into trouble. It'll be out later this year.
[Ratha: Look for Greg starring as the voice of mischievous Chihuahua, aka "Papi Junior."]
Q: Were you a fan of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series before you got the movie?
Zach: Yes, I told my mom I wanted to make a movie of it!
Q: What else do you like to read?
Zach: Right now I'm reading The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan; it's a great book. And of course, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is one of my favorite book series.
Q: What other literary character would you like to play?
Zach: I'd like to be in a movie of one of the Dr. Seuss books. I'd like to be one of those creatures.
Q: Do your older brothers treat you like the baby?
Zach: Like Rodrick in the movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid, they pick on me, and they torture me, but I know they love me.
Q: Is there anything people don’t know about you that you wish they did?
Zach: I am a singer and dancer.
[Ratha: Hmm. . . I have the feeling Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical! Will hit Broadway in a few years. . .]
If you need a refresher on how funny the movie was, check out all our coverage of the Wimpy Kid movie. And if you are Zach Gordon fan, don't miss this STACKS video of him being adorable!
Until next time!
— Ratha, STACKS Writer
Zachary Gordon Interview by Marie Morreale
Images courtesy of 20th Century Fox
that movie waz highlarious love it !!!!!!!!!!
Comment #1 | Posted by: meatrocks500 on July 29, 2010 at 01:14 PM
i like it
Comment #2 | Posted by: lilhoot2 on July 29, 2010 at 01:50 PM
i like the post
Comment #3 | Posted by: lilhoot2 on July 29, 2010 at 01:51 PM
Yay! Mr. Zach reads PJO! Didja guys know Mr. Kinney made Poptropica. Oh, and YAY MILEY!
Comment #4 | Posted by: GNOletsgo1 on July 29, 2010 at 02:55 PM
diary of a awesome book
Comment #5 | Posted by: BRob1217 on July 29, 2010 at 03:12 PM
wow...i Love diary of a wimpy kid series. they make me laugh all the time!they rock!
Comment #6 | Posted by: dogggiedreams on July 29, 2010 at 04:31 PM
i really like reading diary of a wimpy kid series its a really great book i have also took ar tests on them i hope they come out another movie and more books
Comment #7 | Posted by: BFootball1 on July 31, 2010 at 07:24 PM
i've read all the books, i need to see the movie!
Comment #8 | Posted by: Don11 on July 31, 2010 at 11:04 PM
Yes! Can't wait!
Comment #9 | Posted by: Abidur on August 01, 2010 at 09:49 AM
I Love The Books And The Movie It Is LOLsome!
Comment #10 | Posted by: Hs01 on August 01, 2010 at 02:41 PM
I can't wait!!!
Comment #11 | Posted by: Hs01 on August 01, 2010 at 02:42 PM
I Bet The Movie's Awesome!
Comment #12 | Posted by: Eden on August 01, 2010 at 06:45 PM
i think your cute zack and ive seen the picues in the movie dairy
Comment #13 | Posted by: rock46 on August 01, 2010 at 09:05 PM
Book 5 is purple, and it is called The Ugly Truth.
Comment #14 | Posted by: linerider on August 02, 2010 at 08:47 AM
i havent seen the movie yet, but i bet its awesome!! rebekah
Comment #15 | Posted by: rebekah on August 02, 2010 at 08:50 AM
THE MOVIE WAS THE BEST!!!! my favorite part was when greg made the kids go into that deep hole becuase of the teenagers he saw on halloween!
Comment #16 | Posted by: bigboy37 on August 02, 2010 at 03:35 PM
great movie!!!
Comment #17 | Posted by: Dodgersfan on August 02, 2010 at 03:44 PM
I saw the movie with my mom it was funny my favorite part was when they made rowley eat the cheese
Comment #18 | Posted by: JaleynTC on August 04, 2010 at 01:52 PM
I loved the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books! They're so funny! The movie was really good too, but I like the books better.
Comment #19 | Posted by: noodle head on August 05, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is one of my favorite series
Comment #20 | Posted by: ANTONIO on August 06, 2010 at 01:56 PM
I love Diary of a Wimpey Kid
Comment #21 | Posted by: michael on August 07, 2010 at 01:11 PM
When diary of a wimpy kid was still selling books it was a big hit even more than harry potter,but when it was on dvd it stunk.
Comment #22 | Posted by: ferrari g2 on August 08, 2010 at 04:24 PM
i love the books! but the movie is even funnier
Comment #23 | Posted by: cold heat on August 09, 2010 at 12:15 AM
The books are good but the movie is hilarious.
Comment #24 | Posted by: Lexi on August 10, 2010 at 08:25 PM
i liked the books better then the movie. the movie felt just like a mash up of the books to me he didnt get the parts i liked abount the books in the movie
Comment #25 | Posted by: yuvia on August 11, 2010 at 03:47 PM